Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was branded “pathetic” by talkSPORT pundit Jason Cundy for his superhero goal celebration in Arsenal’s Europa League triumph against Rennes on Thursday night.
The former Chelsea defender ripped into the Gunners striker for donning a Black Panther mask after he lived up to his pre-match promise of being a comic book hero if he found the back of the net.
Aubameyang inspired a Gunners comeback with two goals as they overturned a two-goal deficit from the first leg to beat Rennes reach the quarter-finals with a 3-0 triumph.
Cundy told talkSPORT: “Maybe I’m out of touch with modern day footballers. What would annoy me is the game’s not over if they need another goal to take it to extra time.
“The first thing he does he goes looking behind the advertising boards looking for a mask. Behave yourself, grow up man. This is a serious competition.
“Looking for a mask. He looked like something out of Only Fools and Horses. Come on, what a pathetic thing to do.”
“What a pathetic thing to do.” ?
“The game isn’t over and he’s looking for a mask, behave yourself! Grow up.”@JasonCundy05 isn’t happy with Aubameyang’s mask goal celebration ? pic.twitter.com/Pcr8ib3P1z
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) March 15, 2019
OPINION
Cundy has a decent point, here. A goal celebration is a joyous moment, and one that deserves the full works. Choreographed celebrations are nothing new, either. They’ve been going on for a couple of decades and in response to the all-pervasive TV cameras trained on the top matches. But, it’s a bit much scoring a goal and then sending out a search party for a strategically placed superhero mask, before donning it, while a match hangs in the balance. While we shouldn’t expect elite players to gruffly shake the hand of a teammate in the style of the 1950s or 60s, Aubameyang’s alter-egos are just too much. Too affected. Too planned. Too little spontaneity. Sure, children will be lapping it up. But, can’t the gifted striker save the superhero costumes and masks for after the match and the win is in the bag? He can dress up as whatever he wants in the sanctity of the dressing room afterwards.